Turret actuating mechanism



May 9 H. w. RUPPEL TURRET ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed May 11,1940 n ggg/y @mapp/ NAL.,

' May 9, 1944-. H, w. RUPPEI. 2,348,364

f I TURRET ACTUATINC- MECHANISM Original Filed May 11. 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE j TURRET ACTUATING MECHANISMHarry W. Ruppel, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to The Foote-Burt Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio original application May 11, 1940, serial No.334,625. Divided and this application October 1o. 1942, seria1N0.461,57ol 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in turrets adapted to beintermittently rotated to index different tools successively into aworking station, and to be translated axially 'between successiveindexing movements, and has particular reference to the means fortranslating the turret.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improvedindexing means which is selectively adjustable to eliminate axialtranslation of the turret between any two or more indexing movements.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical axial sectional View taken substantially alongline I-I of Fig. 3 through a turret embodying the features of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially alongline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along thebroken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan development of the cam drum for reciprocating theturret.

The present application is a division of my copendin-g application-Serial No. 334,625, filed May 11, 1940.

'Ihe turret, which is herein disclosed for purposes of illustration, isadapted foruse in an automatic screw machine of the type wherein a barof stock is fed intermittently through a hol` low spindle and clamped inan automatic chuck', and is subjected to the successive operations of aplurality of cutting tools mounted on the turret.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine comprises aframe I formed on the top with parallel spaced ways I| supporting aslide I2. A hollow cylindrical turret I3 is mounted for rotation andaxial reciprocation in a split guide sleeve or bearing I4 forming partof a turret housing I5 rigid with the slide' I2. The outer end portionof the housing I5 is closed at the top by a cover I6, and is adapted toreceive the drive end of the turret I3 projectin inwardly from the guidesleeve I4. Y 1

Both ends of the turret I3 are closed, the outer end wall I'l having anaxial opening I8 normally closed by a removable plate I9 and throughwhich access to the interior may Ibe had, and the inner end wall 29having an axial internal bearing sleeve 2|. Formed in the forward end ofthe Yturret I3 are a plurality of parallel holes 22 located in uni-These holes are defined bytubular enlargements 55,

formed on the inner periphery of the lturret I3, and open to the outerend face of the wall Il. It Will be understood that any suitable num-berof tool holes 22 may be provided, and in the present instance six areshown. Any number of tools up to six and of different types as requiredby the number, sequence and nature of the machine operations to beperformed on different kinds of workpieces may be mounted on the turretI3.

The turret I3 has an axial tubular drive shaft 23, `the inner end ofwhich extends through the sleeve 2| and is secured thereto by alongitudinal key v2d, and the outer end of which extends through thehousing I5 into a tubular housing'extension -25. Consequently, the driveshaft is connected to the turret I3 for joint rotation and axialmovement. Splined to the outer end portion of the turret shaft 23 forrelative axial sliding movement is a bearing sleeve 26. This sleeve isrotatably conned against endwise movement in a bearing 21 integral witha vertical bracket 28 on the turret slide I2. One end of the sleeve 26is formed with a peripheral vflange 29, and the other end has a reducedthreaded extension 30 defining a shoulder 3|. A spur gear 32 ispositioned on the sleeve 26 between the bearing 2l and the ange 29, andis rigidly connected to the latter. Threaded onto the extension 30 ofthe sleeve26 against the shoulder 3| is a nut 33. The gear 32 and thenut 33 are in rotary lbearing engagement with the opposite end faces ofthe sleeve 21, and serve to maintain the sleeve in axial position.Consequently, the turret I 3 is adapted to be rotated by the gear 32,and is free to reciprocate axially. Rigidly secured to the end of theturret I3 about the shaft 23 is a plate 34 having an annular :Iange 34aadapted to enter loosely into an annular groove 33a in the adjacent faceof the nut 33. The groove 33a and the flange 34a constitute a dashpotfor damping the end of the re turn movement of the turret I3 intoretracted position.

The means for reciprocating the turret I3 com-V prises a hollow cam,drum 35 mounted for rotation on a parallel axis withinthe frame I0. Inits preferred form, the cam drum 35 is supported at itsends for rotationin depending bearing brackets 36 on the slide I2, and is provided with acontinuous peripheral cam groove 31 of suitable coniiguration. Mountedon the periphery of the turret I3 and corresponding in number andspacing to the holes 22 are a plurality of cam rollers 38 adapted forsuccessive engagement with the cam groove 31.` The groove (see Fig. 4)has one section 39 `with a lead adapted through engagement with any oneof the rollers 38 to move the turret I3 in an advance stroke, anothersection 40 having a reverse lead for retracting the turret in a returnstroke, and a peripheral dwell section 4| for maintaining the turret inretracted position.

The slope of the cam sections 39 and 46 may be the same or different. Ifthe section 40 has a steeper slope than the section 39, the turret willgive a quick return movement.

In the retracted position, the turret I3 is adapted to be indexed, andin the course of each indexing movement one roller 38 will leave the camgroove 31 and the succeeding roller will enter the groove. By reason ofthe dashpot 33a, 34a, heavy impact of the rollers 38 against the dwellend 4| of the cam groove 31 is prevented. Secured within the cam drum 35is an internal gear 42 which meshes with a pinion 43 xed on a sleeveshaft 44 journaled on a cam shaft 44a extending eccentrically throughthe drum. The tubular shaft 44 is connected through a worm and Worm geardrive 45 to a suitable source of power (not shown).

The gear 32 is adapted to be rotated periodically through apredetermined degree, by an in termittent motion device 46 operable bythe cam drum 35, to index the tool turret I3 once for each revolution ofthe drum and hence after each cycle of tool reciprocation. The turret I3is indexed in each step through the angular distance between consecutivetool holes 22 to locate the holes successively in the working station.In thepresent instance, the intermittent motion device 46 is of theGeneva type, comprising a star wheel 41 having a plurality of uniformlyperipherally spaced arms, for example, three, formed in onesiderespectively with open-ended slots or grooves 48. The wheel 41 isfixed on one end of a stub shaft 49 journaled in the bearing bracket 28.A gear 59 secured by a key and nut arrangement I to the other end of theshaft 49 meshes withv the gear 32 to complete the drive relationship tothe turret I3. The cam drum 35, which constitutes the driver, carries aroller 52, on one end face adjacent the periphery, which is arranged toengage one of the slots v48, and thereby to rotate the wheel 41 throughone-third revolution each time the cam drum makes a complete revolution.The angular phase relation between the cam groove 31 and the roller 52about the axis of the drum 35 is such that the turret I3 will be indexedwhile in retracted or inoperative position. Hence, the dwell portion 4Iof the cam groove 31 is in engagement with the operative index roller 38on the turret I3, and positioned to receive the next succeeding roller.

The turret I3 may be indexed a number of times between successivecutting cycles to skip any one or more tools or-tool holes 22 notrequired in a particular machining operation. This is accomplished byretracting the associated index roller or rollers 38 out of the range ofthe cam groove 31. YIn the presentinstance, each roller 38is coaxiallymounted on the outer end Vof a pin 53 slidable in a radial bore 54 inthe turret I3. A set screw 54a, threaded through the end Walll 20 of theturret I3engages in a helicalspline groove 53a'of a comparatively longlead formed in the periphery of the pin 53. The groove 53e is of theexact length required for the'axial range of movement of the pin 53, andpreferably is formed at theA very ends with locating recesses 53badapted selectively to receive the end of the screw 54a. The roller38'can be causedto recede :intoV or project from th@ DOIT@ 54 merely by-desirable in high speed drilling operations.

loosening the screw 54a, then turning the pin 53 through the range ofthe groove 53a, and then retightening the screw. Assuming that one ofthe rollers 38 is retracted, this roller, when indexed into registrationwith the cam groove 31, Will not establish a driving connection betweenthe turret I3 and the cam drum 35. Consequently, the cam drum willrotate through one revolution without causing reciprocation of theturret. Normal operation will be resumed after the second indexingmovement. If, for example, two consecutive rollers 38 are retracted, thecam drum 35 will revolveV twice without reciprocating the turret.

Rotation of both the Work and the tool Iis n the present instance, meansis provided for establishing a rotary drive from an individual motor 55through the turret shaft 23 and turret I3 to a drill spindle mounted inone of the holes 22. This means comprises a tubular shaft 56 extendingaxially through and rotatable in the turret shaft 23. A coupling sleeve51 with internal axial splines is rigidly secured to the outer end ofthe shaft 56, and is seated for rotary bearing engagement in acounterbore 58 in the outer end of the shaft 23. Extending through thecoupling sleeve 51 in driving engagement therewith and into the shaft 56for relative axial reciprocation is a splined drive shaft 59. This shaftprojects from the casing extension 25 through a central opening 69, andis journaled in and extends through a bearing 6I on a bracket 62supporting the motor 55 and mounted on the outer end of the slide I2. Agear 64 is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 59, and is connectedthrough an adjustable idler gear 65 to a gear 66 on the shaft of themotor 55. The gears 64, 65 and 66 are suitably enclosed by a housing 61on the bracket 62. Thus, the motor 55 is connected to drive the shaft 56entering the turret I3 in all positions of axial movement of the latter.

The inner end of the shaft 56 is adapted to be connected through speedchange gearing 68 to a rotary tool spindle 69. To this end, a centralpinion 10 is threaded onto the inner end of the shaft 55. The pinion hasan axial hub 1I engaging a shoulder 12 on the shaft 56, and is spacedfrom the inner end of the turret shaft 23 by an interposed bearingWasher 13. It will be seen that the spline coupling sleeve 51 and thepinion 10 serve to confine the shaft 56 against 'axial movement in theturret shaft 23.

A bracket or carrier disk 14 is keyed to the inner end of the turretshaft 23, and is secured in position against the inner end of the shaftsupporting sleeve 2l by a nut 15. Hence, the disk 14 and the shaftshoulder 15 engaging the opposite end of the sleeve serve to anchor theturret shaft 23- against endwise movement relative to the turret I3. asa unit on a bushing 19 carried by the disk 14. Preferably, the bushing19 is secured in fixed position on the shank of a bolt 8l) threaded intoan eccentric boss 8| on the face of the disk 14. The innermost gear 11meshes with the pinion 10 and the other gear 18 meshes with a pinion 82for driving the associated rotary spindle 69.

The spindle gear or pinion 82 is fixed on the inner end of a tubularinternal spline shaft 83 which is journaled in a bearing sleeve 84removably secured in the inner end of the hole 22 by means of asetscrewv 85. The spindle 69 forms part of a self-contained spindle unitor structure 86 removably inserted into the outer end of the Clustergears 11 and 18 are freely rotatable hole 22, and secured in position bya suitable clamp 81. The spindle unit 86 has an inwardly extending axialdrive shaft 88 which is externally splined and extends into the shaft 88to complete the spindle drive connection. By reason of the telescopedarrangement between the shafts 83 and 88, the spindle unit 86 may besecured in different axial positions as required by the particular depthof hole to be drilled.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine tool, in combination, a frame, a turret housing on saidframe, a turret mounted in said housing for axial reciprocation and forrotary indexing movements and having a plurality of tool holes annularlyarranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation, a camdrum mounted in said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to saidturret axis and having cam means for reciprocating said turret inforward and reverse directions, drive means for rotating said drum, aplurality of pins projecting from said turret for movement in thesuccessive indexing movements of said turret into operative engagementwith said cam means and corresponding in number and spacing to said toolholes, each pin being adjustable in said turret selectively intoprojected position for engagement by said cam means or into retractedposition out of the range of said cam means, and means operable in timedrelation to saiddrum to index said turret step by step respectivelyafter successive revolutions of said drum.

2. In a machine tool, in combination, a frame, a turret slide on saidframe and having a turret housing with a turret guide sleeve, a hollowcylindrical turret mounted in said sleeve for axial reciprocation andfor rotary indexing movements and having a plurality of tool holesannularly arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis ofrotation, a cam drum mounted in said frame for rotation about an axisparallel to said turret axis and having a continuous peripheral camgroove with a forward helical lead and a reverse helical lead, drivemeans for rotating said drum, a plurality of pins projecting radiallyfrom the periphery of said turret for movement successively intooperative engagement with said cam groove and corresponding in numberand spacing to said tool holes, each pin carrying a cam roller and beingadjustable in said turret selectively into projected position forengagement by said groove or into retracted position out of the range ofsaid groove, and means including a Geneva motion device operable fromsaid cam drum to index said turret once for each revolution of saiddrum.

3. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a turret mounted onsaid support for rotary indexing movements and for axial reciprocationin a cycle comprising forward and return strokes, and having a pluralityof holes arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis andmovable successively in consecutive indexing movements into an operativestation, a plurality of cam followers mounted on said drum andcorresponding in number and spacing to said holes, cam meansoperablethrough selective engagement with said followers to reciprocatesaid turret, means for indexing said turret once after each cycle toposition said sockets successively in said station and to move theassociated followers successively into position for engagement by saidcam means, and means for selectively disabling any one of said followerswhereby to skip the corresponding cycle of reciprocation in therecurrent operation of said cam means.

4. In a machine tool, in combination, a rotary turret mounted for axialreciprocation, a drive cam recurrently movable transversely of saidturret and having a reversible throw axially of said turret, a camfollower pin extending slidably and rotatably from a radial bore in saidturret for rotary indexing movement by said turret into and out ofoperative association with said cam, a helical groove in the peripheryof said pin, and a spline member projecting from said turret into saidgroove, whereby reverse rotation of said pin in said bore will causesaid pin to be respectively retracted from or projected into range forengagement by said cam.

5. In a machine tool, in combination, a rotary turret mounted for axialreciprocation, a drive cam recurrently movable transversely of saidturret and having a reversible throw axially of said turret, a camfollower pin projecting slidably from a radial bore in said turret forrotary indexing movement by said turret into and out of operativeassociation with said cam, and means for securing said pin in said boreselectively in retracted position out of the path of said cam or inprojected position into range for operative engagement by said cam toreciprocate said turret.

6. In a machine tool, in combination, a rotary turret mounted for axialreciprocation, a drive cam recurrently movable transversely of saidturret and having a reversible throw axially of said turret, and aplurality of cam follower pins projecting generally radially from saidturret in peripherally spaced relation and adapted for movementrespectively into and out of cooperative association with said cam forsuccessive indexed positions of said turret, at least one of said pinsbeing adjustable out of the range of said cam whereby to render said camineffective to reciprocate said turret in the corresponding indexedposition.

7. In a machine tool, in combination, a rotary turret mounted for axialreciprocation, a drive cam recurrently movable transversely of said vturret and having a reversible throw axially of said turret, a pluralityof cam follower pins projecting generally radially from said turret inperipherally spaced relation and adapted for movement respectively intoand out of cooperative association with said cam for successive indexedpositions of said turret, each of said follower pins extending slidablyand rotatably into a radial bore in said turret and supporting arollerfon the outer end for engagement with said cam, each of said pinsbeing formed in the periphery with a long lead helical groove havinglocating recesses at opposite ends, and a spline screw threaded in saidturret and engaging in said groove, said screw when released permittingrotation of said pin in said bore to move said pin either into projectedposition for engagement by said cam or into retracted position out ofthe range of said cam, and when tightened to engage in one or the otherof said recesses serving to lock said pin in adjusted position.

Y HARRY W. RUPPEL.

